Local hospital has had two Psychiatric patients escape in the last month.

[Lauracrazygirl]

Before I tell my story, let me make something very clear.

I have the up most respect and sympathy for Psychiatric Nurses and Doctors. It's by far the hardest job I can think of and I know that hospitals are not prisons and shouldn't be regarded as such, not even the psychiatrist wards.

But today is the second time in the space of 5 weeks were I have been out for a walk with my son and bumped into a patient who managed to leave their ward without anyone noticing. I phoned 999 on each occasion and the person was picked up by police.

If this has happened to me twice in such a short space of time then how often is it happening?

I don't want to name the hospital here or describe the patients in each instance because I would hate for their families to find out via Mumsnet.

But I don't feel it's right to just leave this as it is.
Should I write to my local council? Or is there some sort of medical inspection council that I should contact? I live in Scotland if that matters.

many thanks

It's not uncommon. If you google the hospital name ( I can guess where this is) and "missing" you get many media articles and also the link to the nhs and police protocol for absent and missing patients - so it must be a regular occurance. If you have safetly concerns you could consider raising with your MSP.

There are lots of things that cause confusion and disorientation in hospital patients that wouldn't be associated with a psychiatric admission. Delirium, dementia, post-seizure behaviour, substance misuse...

And confused patients can get off medical wards

It's not me.

It's not me either.